Unitary multistage filter apparatus



H. A. HLLLs. UNITARY MULTISTAGE FILTER APPARATUS.

Patented Jan.13,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEEI 2.

APPLICATION FILED MAL/1.1911.

vn Y

HENRY A; HILLS, 0F GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

UNITARY MULTISTAGE FILTER APPARATUS'.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented aan, 13,1920.

Application filed May 7, '1917. Serial No. 167,015.

invented certain new 'and'nseful 'Improve-v ments in', Unitary ,'Multistage y Filter 'Apparatus'; v"andf ldo hereby declare 'thatthe following is .l a rfull, clear, Jand exact-. descrip# tion yof thesame, reference beingfhad to the accompanying drawings,'and to'thefnumerals ofreference .markedthereom which form av part of this specication.

This 'invention'relates toza vfilteringr apparatusfwherein fluidv to be filtered is caused to pass through several stagesl durin the iiltering process, and through'a di erent composition of filtering material in each stage, 'and is an improvement in the alp# a1919 1* cation filed May 47th`,"1917," Serial No. 167 ,014. rlhis device `is particularly adapted for use in power ,plants `for the iiltering of,` engine oi'l,'but may lalso -be yused ito advantage 1n l cleaning establishments for the recovery of the cleaning liu'id'by separation of'the dirty matter associated-therewith where a distillation `processie 4not used. The yentire .apparatus, owing to its compact construction, 'requires but small space for installation.

It is an objectftherefore of this inventionlto construct a ilterjapparatus 'embracing-a* plurality of'y lter stages throug'hwhich the 1 fluid to be'filtered is caused to pass insuccessiveforder, and in eachinstance, filtering therethrough by an -`upward `flow, thus utilizing the eect of gravity to a largeeXtent in separating the impurities from fthe Afluid being filtered.

is independently heated, kand with the stages so connected that an u ward flow of'the'fiuid liilteredis caused to ta e placeV through each thereof in successive order," and with means for by-lpassingany of saidfiltervs'tages for` the 'purpose of 'cleaningor'V repairing the `samen without interruption l of the filtering process in the other stages of the'apparatus.

It is `furthermore an'fobjectz-ofthis -invention to construct a filter apparatus comprising a pluralityrof filter stages all assembled within .a lcompact unitary casing member, and interconnected so that-'a flow of the It is'also an objectv o f this' invention Ito-` construct' a yunitary multifstage'filtering ap'- l paratus ,wherein each' of the fseveralf stages -ing purposes.

It 1s finally an object of this invention to'construct a unitary multista'ge filtering apparatus with `means forv heatingf each' one of Hthe stages of saidy apparatu'sinde'pendently, vand 'with 4piping connections to.' constrain any upward flow ofthelfluidfiltered through each of the'respective stages ofthe apparatus. i y

The invention (in a preferred form`)is illustrated in the ldrawings andhereinafter more fully described.

In'the drawings:

Figure 1, is a frontsidefelevation vof an apparatus embodying the principles of my invention. i i

Fig; 2, is Va` longitudinal central sectiontaken therethrough. l

Fig. 3, is a top plan view of the apparatus.`

Figa 4, is a fragmentary' 'rear elevation thereof. r

lAs shown in the drawings:v i

Thev reference numeral 1, indicates a long substantially rectangular casing having'partitions 2, 3, 4 andk 5, therein, dividing the same into a plurality of vcompartments or chambers 6, 7, 8, 9 andrlO, respectively., Mounted in inclined position in the ylower end of each of the respective compartments or chambers, is a steam coil,|each of which is denoted bythe reference numeral 11, .theV inlet` to which is controlled in eaohcase bya valve 12, communicating' into a main steam" linel, on the exterior ofthe filtercasing 1,' atthe rear thereof. The outlets of leach of said steam coils l11, iscontrolled 'by a drain valve 14, and each'ofjsaid drain valves 14, communicates into aneXhaust drain line 15. Mounted in the lower end of each of the respective chambers 6, 7,8,9 and 1 0, is a perforated tray or screenv 16,'upon which, in each instance, is supported a quantity of filtering materialcomposed of two substances, the one of waste or other similar material )denoted by lthev reference numeral. 17, and the other a fabric or "felt composition, denoted'. bythe lreference numeral 18. The "material `18, is more impenetrable than the material 17 ,and the quantity ofthe more impenetrable material 1.8, increases from stage to stage, so that the last two chamvertical i los bers or compartments 9 and 10, are entirely filled with the same. The reason for this is that the first stages of the filter apparatus are designed to remove the larger and heavier impurities suspended in the fluid being filtered, and the latter stages of the apparatus serve to remove the impurities of a finer nature.

An inlet pipe 19, is provided for each of the respective compartments 7, 8, 9 and 10, of the apparatus, communicating into the lower end thereof beneath the tray or screen member 16, and each of said inlet pipes is provided with a controlling valve 20, where- -by the fiow thereinto from the main filter line 21, is regulated. A drain 22, provided with a valve 23, communicates into the inlet pipe 19, closely7 adjacent the filter casing, whereby the contents of a compartment may be drained when the inlet valve 20, is closed.

An outlet pipe 211, communicates into the upper end of each of the respective filter chambers or compartments above an upper tray or screen member 25, provided therein, and said outlet pipe is provided with a valve 26, by which communication is effected with the main filter line 21.

Connected into the main filter line 21, at a plurality of points therein intermediate the points of connection of the inlet pipes 19, and outlet pipes 24C, for the respective filter compartments, are valves 27, which are normally closed, and are only opened when it is desired to by-pass a filter compartment.

The operation is as follows:

The fiuid to be filtered is admitted through the main filter line 21, passing through the open valve 20, and inlet valve 19, to the first filter compartment 6, and flows upwardly through the bottom screen 16, and filtering material 15, and through the filtering material 17 and 18, leaving the upper end of said compartment through the outlet pipe y24C, fiowing downwardly therethrough and through the open valve 26, again into the main filter line 21, the valve 27, at this point, of course, being closed in the main filter line. The fluid, after passage through the first chamber or compartment 6, and return into the main filter line 21, again passes into the neXt filter compartment of the filter through the inlet pipe thereof flowing upwardly therethrough, and again leaving at the upper end thereof and returning to the main filter line 21. Thus this successive filtration operation takes place in successive order, through the respective chambers 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, and the fiuid as it finally emerges from the outlet pipe 24, of the last chamber 10, is entirely clean, and free of impurities.

The steam coils provided in the lower end of each of the filter compartments, serve to heat the fluid entering thereinto, thereby facilitating the filtration process. In the struction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A filter apparatus of the classdescribed comprising a unitary casing, aplurality of filter compartments therein, each providedk with heating means at the bottom thereof, piping connections for passing the fluid to be filtered successively through each compartment and upwardly in each compart? ment so as to first heat and then filter the fluid therein, and means for interrupting communication of the fluid to be filtered with any one of said compartments and for conveying the fluid directly from the compartment preceding to the compartment succeeding such compartment.

2. In a filtering apparatus the combination of an elongated receptacle having a plurality of transverse partitions dividing .the receptacle into a plurality of adjoining separate compartments, a bed of filtering material in each compartment spaced from the bottom thereof to provide a distribution chamber therebelow, a reticulated partition between said chamber and the bed of filterthe fluid to be filtered to the bottom of saidy chamber, a combination supply and `discharge pipe extending alongside of the elongated receptacle and having a separate inlet branch therefrom to the distribution chamber of each compartment, and a separate outlet branch connected therewith from the top of each compartment above the Vbed of filtering material therein, and a valve in each branch, and a valve intermediate kof each inlet and outlet branch whereby the fluid to be filtered may be passed successively through each compartment and upwardly therein or may be passed by any one of the compartments without interrupting circulation through the other compartments.

3. In a filtering apparatus having a plurality of compartments, the combination of a bed of ltering material in each compartment spaced from the bottom thereof to provide a distribution chamber therebetween, a reticulated partition between said chamber and the bed of filtering material, a combination supply and discharge pipe having a valved inlet branch for each compartment communicating with the distribution chamber thereof and having a valved outlet branch for each compartment communicating with the compartment above the bed of filtering material therein, a valve intermediate of each inlet and outlet branch, and a valved drainage outlet from each inlet 1U branch. l

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

HENRY A. HILLS. Witnesses:

CHARLES W. HILLS, Jr., EARL M. HARDINE. 

